Eric Omondi fundraises for 'smokie-mayai' vendor harassed by city askaris

 A collage of Eric Omondi and Quinter Adhiambo. [Instagram]

Comedian Eric Omondi on Wednesday, October 18, used his social media platform to raise funds for a smokie-mayai vendor who incurred losses after her trolley was seized by city askaris.

Quinter Adhiambo was one of the vendors who was affected by the raid and her foodstuff was strewn on the tarmac.

This caught the attention of Omondi who then posted her photos on Instagram captioning, “I am looking for this woman. I have been told that her name is Quinter. We are going to change her life totally. Wakiangusha tunainua.”

A few moments later, Omondi through the same platform, urged Kenyans to help him raise funds for Adhiambo and shared her details.

“I have found Quinter and we are going live in a few. We are going to change her life totally. Start sending money to her number,” read part of the caption.

Omondi coordinated the exercise which went on for about three hours. According to him, they managed to raise Sh556,000 in that short period.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also apologised to the traders who were affected by the raid and gave them Sh10,000 each.

He added that although some of them did not have the required documentation to operate, there were more humane ways of carrying out the exercise.

 Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. [Wiberforce Okwiri]

“Even if the traders were operating without the required documentation, including a Medical Certificate from Public Health that every food handler must have for the safety of Nairobians, they did not deserve such treatment and we are dealing with this internally,” he said.

Adding: “I have ordered the immediate release of all confiscated items, apologized to the traders and personally compensated each of them to the tune of 10,000 shillings each.”